Equipped to deliver high-quality healthcare throughout the Enga province of Papua New Guinea, the Enga Provincial Health Authority goes above and beyond to reach the area’s most hard-to-access regions. Vincent Pyakalyia, CEO, shares more.
THE GUARDIAN OF ENGA’S HEALTHCARE
The healthcare industry in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is full of potential having addressed significant challenges, particularly in the Enga province.
Although several hurdles remain, including delayed or limited government funding and workforce shortages, promising developments are on the horizon to ensure critical healthcare reaches even the most remote districts.
Prepared to fulfil its founding mission, the Enga Provincial Health Authority (Enga PHA) is a decentralised government body responsible for managing and coordinating all public health services in the region.
PHAs were first enacted in PNG in 2007 under the PHA Act, a legislative framework established by the government to integrate and streamline local health
service delivery.
Enga PHA was established in June 2013 with a mission to bring healthcare decision-making closer to the rural communities it serves, ensuring care is responsive, accessible, and aligned with local needs and priorities.
“Prior to the introduction of PHAs, our healthcare system was quite rigid and centralised. All public health was primarily managed by the provincial governments, which meant funding across the country was limited as adjacent public services also needed to be managed,” introduces Vincent Pyakalyia, CEO of Enga PHA.
Consequently, healthcare lacked the necessary variability to effectively reach rural districts due to a disconnect between the primary curative health services and public health outreach.
Nowadays, following the implementation of PHAs, the authority provides both curative and public health services through government support. This streamlines health service delivery, ensures better coordination between national and provincial health efforts, and enhances access to quality healthcare for the people of the Enga province.
BALANCING THE NEEDS OF GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE
Enga PHA has a primary obligation to ensure that health services are delivered on behalf of the provincial government as it continues to work towards building a more resilient and responsive health system through improved infrastructure, staff training, and data-driven decision-making.
The authority’s key services encompass inpatient and outpatient care, maternal and child health, immunisation programmes, disease prevention, and emergency medical response.
Based in Wabag, the provincial capital, Enga PHA also functions across five additional local districts – specifically Wapenamanda, Lagaip, Porgera-Paiela, Kompiam-Ambum, and Kandep – serving a population of around 571,000.
“With a workforce of almost 1,340, the authority employs a diverse team of healthcare professionals and support staff to meet the province’s health needs,” Pyakalyia outlines.
Through direct government funding, the authority has been able to expand its services and partnerships with stakeholders, which has subsequently enabled Enga PHA to establish its own healthcare delivery programme.
“Working on behalf of the provincial government gives us the economy and autonomy to drive and manage our people as a technical advisory body to the Department of Health, granting us the power to manage health in the province according to the needs of our people,” he explains.
Enga PHA also has the opportunity to connect with development partners and organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and other institutions in the health sector.
The authority works directly with these partners to seek support, whether that involves funding for training or donations of equipment, appliances, and medicines.
“The evolution of Enga PHA reflects a commitment to providing equitable, effective, and sustainable health services for all,” Pyakalyia states.
A LANDMARK HEALTH FACILITY
A notable development under the authority’s management is Enga Provincial Hospital – a modern, 300-bed facility featuring state-of-the-art technology and sustainable infrastructure to enhance health delivery in the region and meet international standards.
The hospital, which opened in March 2025, marks a ground-breaking development in PNG’s healthcare landscape, particularly as it is the country’s first purpose-built greenfield facility since gaining independence in 1975.
“As a flagship facility, Enga Provincial Hospital significantly differentiates Enga PHA from others by positioning it as a national leader in healthcare innovation and service delivery,” Pyakalyia highlights.
With advanced diagnostic and surgical units, along with specialised services such as maternal and neonatal care, the hospital not only enhances clinical capabilities but also reinforces the authority’s commitment to delivering healthcare in rural settings.
In addition,, Enga PHA is fortunate to have strong political support, as the province’s Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas, GCL, KBE, MP, is well-respected and one of the longest-serving members of parliament in PNG.
“He’s a very practical person, and this hospital is the culmination of one of his visions. It’s not going to be an easy project, but we’re all committed to getting it done.”
Enga Provincial Hospital showcases the authority’s strategic vision, robust governance, and capacity to attract top-tier partnerships and investments – elements that distinguish it from other PHAs in the country.
“It serves as a benchmark for future healthcare infrastructure projects in PNG,” Pyakalyia boasts.
FACILITATING VITAL HEALTHCARE PROCEDURES
One area of care Enga PHA aims to advance at Enga Provincial Hospital is endoscopic surgery, following the department’s earlier closure due to insufficient technology and equipment.
“Given many people come from quite remote areas for surgeries, patients often remain in the hospital for extended periods. Sometimes that’s not economical, so we aim to shorten their stay, and the new endoscopic approach will provide us that opportunity,” Pyakalyia explains.
Enga PHA also aims to introduce robotic surgery at the hospital and across the province, helping to enhance the hospital’s visibility and promote it as a distinctive facility.
The authority aims to meet the needs of the local community by ensuring adequate outreach and proactive healthcare.
“Endoscopic surgery has come a long way since it was first rolled out here, so I think PNG is in a better position to implement something like this compared to previous years, so that’s where we’ll start,” he states.
Elsewhere, Enga PHA will dedicate considerable time to refurbishing all six district hospitals to support the outreach of Enga Provincial Hospital, deploying skilled staff throughout the province.
This will be further compounded by the introduction of aid posts – smaller health centres that provide specialist care to more rural areas – and partnerships with church health providers, ensuring individuals in harder-to-reach areas can still receive care.
“As a flagship facility, Enga Provincial Hospital significantly differentiates Enga PHA from others by positioning it as a national leader in healthcare innovation and service delivery”
Vincent Pyakalyia, CEO, Enga Provincial Health Authority
LEVERAGING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
In line with the upward technological trajectory of PNG’s healthcare sector, Enga PHA is investing in innovative solutions, such as delivering medical supplies by drone to remote areas.
“Drones can easily pick up and drop off supplies in certain locations, so this is probably our biggest innovation that will change how we provide our services to remote areas,” Pyakalyia comments.
Through its partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the authority also has the opportunity to deploy Starlink across the province to address logistical barriers.
Indeed, the satellite constellation provides better access to information for remote health centres and assists hospitals in engaging in virtual teaching, ultimately having far-reaching impacts.
Elsewhere, Enga PHA has recently set up a fuel depot and vehicle maintenance workshop to tackle some of its major expenses and geographical challenges.
For instance, the authority relies heavily on the regular supply of fuel to operate in areas with limited power availability, which consumes a significant portion of its operational budget.
However, due to Pyakalyia’s previous experience, he can access a main supplier, thereby sufficiently supplying a comprehensive fuel depot.
Furthermore, the establishment of a vehicle maintenance workshop enables Enga PHA to avoid outsourcing fleet maintenance services, utilising its team of mechanics and ultimately reducing costs.
STREAMLINING THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Most of Enga PHA’s medical and pharmaceutical supplies provided by the government are transported from Mount Hagen, the capital of the neighbouring Western Highlands province, and travel by truck.
“As a result, partner and supplier relationships are paramount for timely and quality distribution,” Pyakalyia attests.
Enga PHA has also engaged with Australian healthcare expert Dr. Grant Muddle, ML, to assist in sourcing high-quality, fit-for-purpose equipment for Enga Provincial Hospital.
“Employed by the Enga Provincial Government, Muddle brings decades of international experience and deep knowledge of the latest healthcare technologies and medical equipment. His global network of trusted suppliers has enabled us to source equipment at highly competitive prices,” he explains.
In a resource-constrained environment, this procurement model ensures the authority receives the best value for money.
Beyond cost and quality, Muddle’s expertise and experience have helped to streamline and standardise the equipment used across Enga PHA.
This has led to simpler training for clinical and biomedical teams, easier access to spare parts, and improved efficiency in equipment maintenance and repairs.
“Ultimately, this has enabled us to build a more innovative, sustainable procurement model, supporting better patient care and more efficient resource management across the entire health network,” Pyakalyia concludes.
ENGA PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY PARTNERS
